Hi, everyone. I wanted to wish y'all A Happy New Years, but honestly this week and today have been a rough start to the new year. Can I ask you guys to pray for my next-door neighbor? She's one of the sweetest people I know, and I won't give out details because it's personal, but whatever little respect I had for her husband is gone! And this morning I found out the news about the attack on Borbon Street that has left 10 dead and 35 in the hospital and to find out later there were explosives just wrecked my spirit. It really freaked me out since it was close to home and I know friends and family members who like to go down in the quarters, luckily no one I know was down there, but still pray for the victims. I'm just writing right now to keep my stress, anxiety, and whatever down. I hope everyone else is doing okay and stay safe.

There is Hope

A million thoughts bounced inside Dexter's head.

Just a few hours earlier Raven had turned evil, had been disowned by his ex-father, got captured by goblins, found out that the headmaster has been poisoning Raven, and found out that The Narrators Maddie would randomly talk to were REAL!

Dexter tossed and turned in his sleeping bag trying to get some form of comfort, but nothing worked. What Dexter wouldn't give for the sand man to sprinkle his sleep sand - NO -punch his lights out so he could get some sleep.

Dexter rose up to see that the others were snuggled up fast asleep in their sleeping bags. Dexter didn't know if this was because of them finding peace or if the adrenaline wore off on them, if it was the former Dexter was sour apple green with envy. Dexter laid back down trying to get some rest.

*WHIMPER*

Dexter thought he heard something but brushed it off and went back to sleep.

*HICCUP*

There it was again. Dexter reached for his glasses trying to see who was making that noise.

*WEEP*

Someone was crying.

Dexter saw someone on their knees at the cave's entrance as the lightning illuminate their silhouette. Dexter got up and headed towards the crying friend.

"Are you okay - MADDIE?!" Dexter gasped.

Yes, Maddie was the one who was crying. Maddie who always had a smile on her face, had pep in every step she took, and would always making people laugh with her jokes now was trembling from fear, the cold, maybe both, snot coming out of her nose, hair flattened, biting her lip to hold back her cries, and tears running down her face.

"Maddie!" Dexter gasped. "What's wrong?"

" The teacup has spillover with sea salt and sorrow." Maddie choked out.

"God, I need to learn Riddlish!" Dexter hissed to himself.

Maddie just looked so miserable, it broke Dexter's heart.

" We're doomed." Maddie hiccuped.

"What? No, we're not!" Dexter said.

"Yes, we are!" Maddie shouted. " First, I lost Wonderland. Second, my dad may have been captured. Third, my best friend is gone!" Maddie cried as Earl Grey sat on her shoulder and patted her head.

Dexter never seen Maddie so upset in the two years that he has known her except for when she was almost banished to Neverland, when they had to return from Wonderland (read my other fanfic Way Too Wonderland Rewrite), Nina took over the schools during the Dragon Games, and Raven's disappearance. Dexter wrapped his arms around Maddie and scooped her up in a warm hug.

The same hugs he would give Darling whenever she was upset, overwhelmed, or crying to comfort her and make her feel safe. If Raven were here she would've comforted Maddie, but she wasn't. So now it was his job.

Maddie wept into Dexter's chest as tears stained his already dirty shirt, but he didn't care. Right now, at this very second Maddie was his top priority.

"It's okay, Maddie." Dexter softly said as he rubbed circles into her back. "We'll fix this I promise."

"Thanks, Dexter." Maddie thanked Dexter with a yawn as she cuddled up in his chest.

"No problem." Dexter responded. "Ready to go back? Maddie?"

Maddie looked down to see that Maddie and Earl Grey were fast asleep, Dexter chuckled as he put them back in their sleeping bags before returning to his.

"You're a good big brother." A voice said.

"What?" Dexter yelped.

"Shh!" Another voiced hushed Dexter. "You'll wake the others it's Darling and me, Cupid."

"Oh, you both heard everything?" Dexter asked.

"Yeah, it was sweet." Cupid answered.

"And Maddie truly needed it." Darling added. "Try to get some rest, big bro."

Dexter turned towards the sleeping Maddie and Earl Grey noticing how peaceful they looked in their sleep this was most likely the most peaceful they slept since Raven disappeared.

As the teens slept the storm outside ceased to a gentle rain as the moon and stars above the dark clouds shined bright.

I'm gonna end it here. I hope everyone stays safe and I'll update the next chapter later, bye.